Verbena plant named ‘Invebputow’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Verbena  plant named ‘Invebputow’, characterized by its upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; and inflorescences of purple violet-colored flowers that are held above and beyond the foliar plane on strong peduncles.

Botanical designation: Verbena bonariensis×Verbena hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘INVEBPUTOW’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Verbenaplant, botanically known as Verbena bonariensis×Verbena hybrida, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Invebputow’.

The new Verbena plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Heidesheim, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new upright freely-branching Verbenaplants with thick stems and large sterile flowers.

The new Verbena plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in August, 2011 in Heidesheim, Germany of an unidentifiedproprietary seedling selection of Verbena bonariensis, not patented, asthe female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Verbenahybrida identified as code number Vb10-1000-9, not patented, as themale, or pollen, parent. The new Verbena plant was discovered and firstselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progenyof the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environmentin Heidesheim, Germany in May, 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Verbena plant by terminal cuttings in acontrolled environment in Gensingen, Germany since September, 2011 hasshown that the unique features of this new Verbena plant are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Verbena have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Invebputow’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Invebputow’ as a new and distinct Verbenaplant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Inflorescences of purple violet-colored flowers that are held        above and beyond the foliar plane on strong peduncles.

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. Plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena are shorter than plants of the        female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Verbena have thicker stems than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Verbena flower have not been observed to        produce seed whereas plants of the female parent selection        produce numerous seeds.

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of themale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena are more upright than plants of the        male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Verbena are more freely branching than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Verbena have larger flowers than plants of        the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the Verbenabonariensis ‘Little One’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,124. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the newVerbena differed primarily from plants of ‘Little One’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena were taller than plants of ‘Little        One’.    -   2. Plants of the new Verbena were more freely branching than        plants of ‘Little One’.    -   3. Plants of the new Verbena had larger leaves than plants of        ‘Little One’.    -   4. Plants of the new Verbena had larger flowers than plants of        ‘Little One’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Verbena plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Verbena plant.

The photograph on the right of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘Invebputow’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the left of the sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘Invebputow’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and the following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the summer in 10-cm containersin an outdoor nursery in Bonsall, Calif. and under cultural practicestypical of commercial potted Verbena production. During the productionof the plants, day temperatures averaged 29° C., night temperaturesaveraged 18° C. and light levels ranged from 7,000 to 10,000foot-candles. Plants were pinched one time and were eight weeks old whenthe photographs and description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Verbena bonariensis×Verbena hybrida    ‘Invebputow’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unidentified proprietary seedling            selection of Verbena bonariensis, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Verbena            hybrida identified as code number Vb10-1000-9, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Vegetative tip cuttings.        -   Time initiate roots, summer.—About five to seven days at day            temperatures averaging 27° C. and night temperatures            averaging 22° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven to nine days at            day and night temperatures averaging 22° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About 21 to 23 days            at day temperatures averaging 27° C. and night temperatures            averaging 18° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About 28 to 30 days            at day temperatures averaging 18° C. and night temperatures            averaging 16° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium in density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright plant habit; freely            branching habit with about eight primary lateral branches            developing per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch            development; vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 37 cm.        -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 26 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 37 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 3 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—Close to 146A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; sessile.        -   Length.—About 5.4 cm.        -   Width.—About 1 cm.        -   Shape.—Oblong to lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Truncate to slightly auriculate; clasping.        -   Margin.—Irregularly crenate, erose.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Pubescent; coarse and stiff hairs;            hirsutulous.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Pubescent, minute.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            146A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A;            venation, close to 147C. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 146B; venation, close to 148C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Sessile salverform flowers            arranged in compact rounded compound corymbs; flowers face            upward or outwardly; freely flowering habit with about 62            flowers developing per primary inflorescence and about 20            flowers per secondary inflorescences.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from            spring through the summer in California; early flowering            habit, plants begin flowering about six weeks after            planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about four to five days on            the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 3.4 cm.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 1.7 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3 mm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 8 mm.        -   Throat diameter.—Less than 1 mm.        -   Tube length.—About 5 mm.        -   Tube diameter.—Less than 1 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Shape: Elongated lanceolate. Color: Close to 85A.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five fused petals            fused towards the base into a narrow tube. Petal lobe            length: About 1 mm. Petal lobe width: About 1 mm. Petal lobe            shape: Round. Petal lobe apex: Rounded to shallowly            emarginate. Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Petal luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Matte. Throat texture: Pubescent, minute.            Tube texture: Pubescent, minute. Color: Petal, when opening,            upper surface: Close to N82B. Petal, when opening, lower            surface: Close to 85C. Petal, fully opened, upper surface:            Close to N82C; with development, color becoming closer to            85D. Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close to 85B;            venation, close to 85D. Throat: Close to 85D. Tube: Close to            85C.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five fused sepals fused            towards the base into a narrow tube. Sepal length: About            2 mm. Sepal width: About 1 mm. Sepal shape: Narrowly            lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal            texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent, minute. Sepal            color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146B.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncles: About 5.4 cm. Length,            axillary peduncles: About 2.7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect, terminal peduncles: Erect. Aspect,            axillary peduncles: About 45° to 55° from vertical. Texture:            Pubescent, minute. Color: Close to 146A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Four.            Filament length: Less than 1 mm; mostly adnate to throat.            Filament color: Close to NN155D. Anther shape: Rounded.            Anther length: Less than 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 1B.            Pollen amount: None observed. Pistils: Quantity: One per            flower. Pistil length: About 3 mm. Stigma shape: Rounded.            Stigma color: Close to 144A. Style length: About 1.5 cm.            Style color: Close to 145D. Ovary color: Close to 144C.        -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed development have not been            observed on plants of the new Verbena.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Verbena have been observed    to tolerate temperatures from about 1° C. to about 40° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Verbena have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Verbena    plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Verbena plant named ‘Invebputow’ asillustrated and described.